Job 22 15

Job 22:15 kjv

Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Job 22:15 nkjv

Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,

Job 22:15 niv

Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod?

Job 22:15 esv

Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?

Job 22:15 nlt

"Will you continue on the old paths
where evil people have walked?

Job 22 verses

Job 22 15 Meaning

Job 22:15 presents Eliphaz the Temanite's accusatory rhetorical question to Job, challenging him by implying that Job is clinging to, or intends to follow, the established and ancient path taken by wicked people. This "old way" is understood to be the course of life chosen by those who act in profound iniquity, individuals who historically met with swift and certain divine judgment, as detailed in the subsequent verses (Job 22:16-18). Eliphaz, within his framework of strict retributive justice, suggests that Job's suffering is evidence of his adoption of such a wicked path.

Job 22 15 Context

Job 22:15 appears in the third and final speech of Eliphaz the Temanite to Job. At this point, the debate among Job's friends is becoming more pointed and accusatory. While earlier speeches contained general assumptions of sin leading to suffering, Eliphaz now directly accuses Job of specific acts of injustice and hard-heartedness (Job 22:6-9), moving beyond the theological principle to direct slander. Eliphaz operates under a rigid system of retributive justice: God unfailingly punishes the wicked, and therefore, suffering like Job's must stem from profound, perhaps hidden, wickedness. In verse 15, Eliphaz implies Job's current condition is a result of embracing a corrupt and ancient "path"—the very same one walked by those iniquity-laden individuals whom God has justly cut off, suggesting a connection to ancient historical judgments (such as the Flood or Sodom's destruction mentioned indirectly in Job 22:16-18). Eliphaz intends to pressure Job into confessing his supposed sins and repenting so that Job might be restored (Job 22:21-30). However, Eliphaz's perspective, while rooted in genuine faith in God's justice, fundamentally misunderstands the nature of Job's suffering and God's sovereign purposes.

Job 22 15 Word analysis

• הֲדֶ֣רֶךְ (Ha-derekh):

  • הֲ (Ha-): This is an interrogative particle, signifying that the statement is a question. It asks, "Is it...?" or "Will you...?"
  • דֶּ֣רֶךְ (derekh): Means "way," "path," "road," or "course of life." In biblical wisdom literature, "the way" often denotes one's habitual conduct, moral orientation, or general lifestyle. Eliphaz is not merely talking about a physical route but Job's moral trajectory.

• עוֹלָ֣ם (Olam):

  • Means "long duration," "antiquity," "everlasting," or "ancient." In this context, "ancient" or "old" refers to a way that has been established and known from the distant past, likely invoking examples of divine judgment from history or primordial times.

• תִּשְׁמֹ֑ר (Tishmor):

  • From the root שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning "to keep," "observe," "guard," "preserve," or "adhere to." Eliphaz's question implies that Job is either currently clinging to this wicked path or intending to continue doing so. It speaks of a deliberate commitment.

• אֲשֶׁ֖ר (Asher):

  • A relative pronoun, meaning "who," "which," or "that." It links "the old way" to those who have "trod" it.

• דָּרְכ֣וּ (Darkhu):

  • From the root דָּרַךְ (darak), meaning "to tread," "walk," "go," "march." It vividly portrays the act of walking or following a path, emphasizing their active participation in that particular "way." The plural indicates "they trod."

• מְתֵֽי־אָֽוֶן׃ (Metei-Aven):

  • מְתֵֽי (Metei): The construct plural of מֶת (met), meaning "men" or "mortals of." It identifies a specific group.
  • אָֽוֶן (Aven): Signifies "wickedness," "iniquity," "evil," "trouble," or "sorrow." It denotes not just wrongdoing but often implies actively harmful, perverse, or unjust behavior.
    • Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "הֲדֶ֣רֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם תִּשְׁמֹ֑ר" (Ha-derekh Olam Tishmor): "Will you keep to the old way?" / "Are you adhering to the ancient path?"

  • This phrase is Eliphaz's direct challenge. He is suggesting Job has adopted or is determined to uphold a traditional mode of living that predates his present suffering. The combination of "way" (derekh) and "ancient" (olam) points to long-established patterns of conduct that have historically led to downfall. The choice to "keep" (tishmor) implies an active, deliberate adherence, not a passive accident.

• "אֲשֶׁ֖ר דָּרְכ֣וּ מְתֵֽי־אָֽוֶן׃" (Asher Darkhu Metei-Aven): "that wicked men have trod?" / "which men of iniquity have walked?"

  • This phrase clearly defines "the old way" by specifying who has walked it. "Metei-Aven" ("men of iniquity") are those whose lives are characterized by unrighteousness, injustice, and evil. By linking Job to "meteiavven," Eliphaz paints a picture of Job aligning himself with the worst of humanity, who were demonstrably punished by God. This establishes a theological basis for his accusation, preparing the listener for the examples of judgment to follow.

Job 22 15 Bonus section

• Rhetorical Device: The verse uses a potent rhetorical question (hypophora) to imply guilt and challenge Job directly, forcing him to consider the gravity of the implied accusation.
• Theological Irony: Eliphaz is earnest in his attempt to defend God's justice and lead Job to repentance. Yet, his rigid theological framework prevents him from understanding Job's unique situation, inadvertently accusing a righteous man and thus, in a sense, misrepresenting God's larger purposes. This highlights a recurring theme in the book: the limitations of human wisdom when seeking to comprehend divine ways.
• Polemics against Folly: Though misapplied to Job, the essence of Eliphaz's warning (not to follow wicked ways) aligns with a universal biblical theme found throughout Proverbs and Psalms. The "old way" in this sense also stands in opposition to the "ancient paths" of righteousness that God desires His people to walk in (cf. Jer 6:16).

Job 22 15 Commentary

Job 22:15 encapsulates the core of Eliphaz's argument against Job: he perceives Job's immense suffering as irrefutable proof of his adherence to the path of the wicked. Eliphaz, speaking from a position of confident, though limited, theological understanding, appeals to a perceived historical precedent of divine judgment, suggesting that God has always, and will always, cut off the unrighteous. His question, "Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?", is deeply rhetorical and accusatory, intended not for an answer but to impress upon Job the severity of his presumed offense. The "old way" specifically refers to the lifestyle and choices of individuals from antiquity who were summarily judged by God (e.g., those from Noah's flood or Sodom's destruction, implied in later verses), thus framing Job's perceived sin not as an isolated incident but as a continuation of ancient rebellion against God. The irony, crucial to the Book of Job, is that Eliphaz's firm theology, while generally true about God's justice, is tragically misapplied to Job, who is truly righteous. Eliphaz’s speech highlights the human tendency to oversimplify divine providence, linking suffering directly and solely to individual sin, a viewpoint that the Book of Job ultimately challenges.